Youth Reach Final

Aberdeen 1 Rangers 3

Despite losing an early goal Rangers Under 18’s came back to record a comfortable win in today’s Youth Cup Semi Final at Balmoral Stadium, Cove. Once Josh McPake put the young Rangers side ahead just before the break they were never in any danger of losing the tie.

The home side took the lead in the fourth minute, Danny Finlayson misjudged the bounce of a ball played forward and it allowed Kevin Hanratty to progress to the left hand byline before squaring for Connor Barron to net from the edge of the six yard box. Three minutes later Lewis Duncan cut in from the right and his shot forced Nicky Hogarth to dive to his right to parry.

The game hadn’t reached the ten minute mark when Rangers drew level. Dapo Mebude won possession midway inside the Aberdeen half and passed to Josh McPake who sent Ciaran Dickson breaking into the right side of the box, his first effort was blocked but he followed up to score from the rebound. Midway through the half Ben Williamson’s pass sent Josh McPake breaking into the right side of the penalty area but Archie Mair stood up to parry his powerful shot.

Six minutes before the break Ben Williamson passed to Josh McPake whose pass sent Dapo Mebude racing into the right side of the box but his shot was weak and Archie Mair saved comfortably low to his right. The goal was only delayed by a couple of minutes when Rangers took the lead. Dapo Mebude passed to Josh McPake and he went past Luke Turner and into the right side of the penalty area before slotting past Archie Mair.

Half-Time:- Aberdeen 1 Rangers 2

Aberdeen were first to threaten after the break on fifty-two minutes, Lloyd Robertson passed to Ethan Ross who broke towards Rangers box before playing in Kevin Hanratty on the left side of the penalty area but he shot into the side netting. On the hour mark Lloyd Robertson passed to Kevin Hanratty on the left, he cut inside before shooting from around twenty-five yards that Nicky Hogarth comfortably held under the crossbar.

Five minutes later only a brilliant Archie Mair save prevented Rangers increasing their lead. Harris O’Connor crossed from close to the right hand byline and picked out Josh McPake around eight yards from goal, he seemed certain to score but the Aberdeen keeper dived to his right to parry. The third Rangers goal came seven minutes later, Dapo Mebude in possession on the right cut inside leaving two defenders in his wake and his reverse pass released Nathan Young-Coombes inside the right side of the penalty area and he finished with a sublime dink over the keeper.

Rangers came close to further goals in the final ten minutes, first Kai Kennedy played in Josh McPake inside the left side of the box but was denied when Archie Mair blocked the shot with his foot. With six minutes remaining an exchange of passes on the left allowed Nathan Young-Coombes to reach the left hand byline, his centre reached Ben Williamson at the back post but Archie Mair raced from goal to make the block.

Full-Time:- Aberdeen 1 Rangers 3

Aberdeen:- Archie Mair; Danny Strachan, Luke Turner, Connor Power, Lloyd Robertson; Connor Barron (Max Barry 65 mins), Jack Chesser (Mark McLachlan HT); Lewis Duncan, Ethan Ross, Kevin Hanratty; Kieran Shanks (Michael Dangana 65 mins).

Not Used:- Tom Ritchie (Gk), Tyler Mykyta, Kyle Dalling, Calvin Ramsay.

Rangers:- Nicky Hogarth; Harris O’Connor, Danny Finlayson, Kyle McClelland, Nathan Patterson (James Maxwell 72 mins); Murray Miller; Ben Williamson, Ciaran Dickson (Nathan Young-Coombes 65 mins); Josh McPake, Dapo Mebude (Joao Balde 79 mins), Kai Kennedy.

Not Used:- Brian Kinnear (Gk), Kieran McKechnie, Matty Yates, Chris McKee.